Daily Devotional with Oswald ChambersBased on the Book: 'My Utmost For His Highest' (The
Golden Book of Oswald Chambers,1935) by Oswald Chambers

Intimate With Jesus

"Jesus said to him, 'Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known
Me, Philip?' " John 14:9

These words were not spoken as a rebuke, nor even with surprise; Jesus was
encouraging Philip to draw closer. Yet the last person we get intimate with is
Jesus. Before Pentecost the disciples knew Jesus as the One who gave them power
to conquer demons and to bring about a revival (see Luke 10:18-20). It was a
wonderful intimacy, but there was a much closer intimacy to come: ". . . I have
called you friends . . ." (John 15:15). True friendship is rare on earth. It
means identifying with someone in thought, heart, and spirit. The whole
experience of life is designed to enable us to enter into this closest
relationship with Jesus Christ. We receive His blessings and know His Word, but
do we really know Him?

Jesus said, "It is to your advantage that I go away . . ." (John 16:7). He left
that relationship to lead them even closer. It is a joy to Jesus when a disciple
takes time to walk more intimately with Him. The bearing of fruit is always
shown in Scripture to be the visible result of an intimate relationship with
Jesus Christ (see John 15:1-4).

Once we get intimate with Jesus we are never lonely and we never lack for
understanding or compassion. We can continually pour out our hearts to Him
without being perceived as overly emotional or pitiful. The Christian who is
truly intimate with Jesus will never draw attention to himself but will only
show the evidence of a life where Jesus is completely in control. This is the
outcome of allowing Jesus to satisfy every area of life to its depth. The
picture resulting from such a life is that of the strong, calm balance that our
Lord gives to those who are intimate with Him.